Valve mechanism



Dec. 22, 1925. 1,566,472

H. F. FULLER Er AL VALVE MECHANISM Filed Sept. 20. .1923

5 Sheets-Sheet 1 BYv nec. 22, 1925. 1,566,412

l H. F. FULLER El AL VALVE MECHANI sM s sheets-sheet 2 Filed Sept. 20? 1925 Mp/Emmi? rhas Patented Dec. 22, 192,5.

UNITED sTATEs 1,556,472 PATENT o-FFICE- HARRISON F. FULLER, OF INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA,.AND ARTHUR L. BETTS, OF CIN- CINNATI, OHIO, ASSIGNORS TO AUGUSTINE DAVIS, JR., OF COVINGTON, KENTUCKY.

VALVE MECHANISM.

i Application ined september zo, i923. semi No. 663,785.

To all whom 'may concern.'

Be it known that we, HARRISON F. FULLER and ARTHUR L. BnTTs, citizens of the United States, and residents, respectively, of Indianapolis, in the county of Marion and State of Indiana, and of Cincinnati, in the county of Hamilton and State of Ohio, have invented a new and useful Valve Mechanism, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to valve mechanism, and more particularly to emergency, valve mechanisms for tanks, such as oil tank wagon tanks. It is important that the bottom outlets of the compartments of these tanks be guarded by spring-seated emergencyk valves, and in these mechanisms the connections from such valves are connected to a longitudinal control rod, which is connected with operating and holding means at the rear end whereby the valves can be unseated to permit the drawing of oil or gasoline through the faucet pipes. The present invention is more particularly an improvement in means whereby the control rod can be released, by'operationfat a forward point or from the cab, lfrom the holding means at the rear end, so as to cause the emergency valves to close independently of the regular operating mechanism, as in case of fire or collison.

The purpose of the invention is to provide a valve mechanism having these features which is of a simple, strong and reliable character. which does not require any 'very close adjustment or great accuracy in manufacture in order toinsure the re-connection of the device after an emergency action, and which is weather-proof. The novel mechaiiism involves a control rod capable of two kinds of movement, namely longitudinal and rotary movements, withtelescopic connections whereby movement of the rod effected at its forward end releases it from thev rear coiinect-ion. In the accompanying drawings illustrating the invention:

Fig1 is a side elevation of a compara niented tank-wagon tank and its bucket-boX and valve mechanism, embodying the invention, with portions broken away.; Fig. 2 is a top plan View of the mechanism involved in the invention, taken on a larger scale;

Fig. 3 is an elevation of the partsshown infv Fig. 2, looking from the leftV of said figure;. Figs, and 5 .MQ QTOSSSQCtlOnal views onV dispensing faucet, not shown.

a still larger scale, taken,- respecti'if'ely'on the lines 4 4 and 5 5 of Fig-2; Fig. 6

is an end elevation looking from the right of Fig. 2; Fig. 7 is a longitudinal sectional view, taken on the line 7 7 of Fig. 8; and Fig. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 8 8 of Fig. 7.

The truck tank 1 is divided, as is custoinwhich a pipe 4 leads rearward t0 the usual The valves are movable vertically within the lower part of the tank, and are adapted to be closed by springs 5. Operating connections 6 pass from the valves upward through the tank to brackets 7 on top, where, in the particular construction selected for illustration, they are adapted Ato be operated by arms 8 on transverse rock-shafts 9, the said shafts having depending arms 10 connected with longitudinal sleeves 11, all of which may be regardedas forming-part of the valve connections.

A common control rod 12 extends through the sleeves 11 longitudinally of the top of the tank, at one side of its center. Collars 13 set on this rod, in front of the sleeves 11, provide, `in connection with the latter, what may be termed one-side abutment, so that rearward draft of the rod will unseat the valves. While one-side abutment is sufficient for this purpose, and the construction is desirable because of its simplicity, it will be evident that this is not essential. It will be observed that the controlrod is free to turn within the sleeves.

The operating and holding means at the reai' end of the tank may be varied. In the construction illustrated there is a vertical rock-shaft A'14, to the lower portion of which, within a bucket-box 15, is. pinned an operating lever 16. The connection of this lever with the rock-shaft enables it to rotate the shaft, and at the same time permits it to tilt f nected with a piece 20, which is fixed on the vrear-end of a sleeve21.

This sleeve or telescopic connection inein- .ber 21 receives thevrear end of the control rod 12, and has longitudinal and transverse passages 22 and 23 to cooperate with a trans verse pin or key'24 in the end of the rod. The pin 24 can move freely in the longitudinal grooves 22, but when the rod is in its relative rearward position and is turned so as to bring the pin out of line with the grooves 22 and into the lateralpassage or chamber 23, so as to cooperate with the shoulder 25 afforded by this chamber, the parts are coupled with respect to longitudinal movement, so that operation of the lever 16 to drawxrearward on the sleeve 21 will also effect rearward movement on the rod 12. If, however, the rod be turned so that the key will be in line -with the longitudinal grooves, then the valve springs will'be free to seat the valves and draw the rear endv of the control rod forward in the sleeve 21.

At the forward end the control rodis provided wit-li another pin or key 26, which is freely movable in longitudinal,grooves or passages27 of a rotatable bearing sleeve 23..

'Ihis sleeve is rotatably mounted .in a fixed bearing 29, which is carried by a bracket 30 liXed to the shell of the tank. A clamp connection 31 secures the bearing 29 to the vertical limb of this bracket, in a manner permitting of vertical adjustment to allow for different dimensions of tanks and positions -of the mechanism thereon. A pin 32 in the fixed bearing cooperating with the circumferential groove 33 inthe rotatable bearing retains the latter against longitudinal movement while permitting its free turning move* ment. An arm 34 on the rotatable bearing 2S enables this part to be turned by-suitable operatingmeans, repr-esentedbya pull rod Another arm 36 on the sleeve serves 'for attachment of a spring 37, whiehholds the sleeve in'its-.normal-position, the opposite end of the spring being. connected to a rigid arm 38 projectingfromthe clamp 31. A segmental flange 39"'projectingfrom the fixed bearing 29 co-operates vasl a stop with the rarms 34 and 3G. The normal abutment of f the arm 34-against the flange under the tenlimiting the forward movement of the control rod under the action of t-hevalve springs whenthe controlrod isturnedby the releasing means, whichhras beendescribed, so as to uncouple it fromY the connection at 'the rear end.

In operation, the partsbeing in their normal relations, operation ofthelever 16 will ,draw rearward .the .sleeve 121, and 4this in turn will ,..pull .the cont-rol :rod 12, ...and

tliroggh .the 'cllarsll:andeleevesfll' will operate the valve connections so asto unseat them against the tension of their springs 5. In this movement the key 26 at the forward end of the control rod slides freely in the longitudinal grooves 27 of the rotatable bearing 28. The valves being open, the lever 16 is engaged with the holding shoulder 17, so that the valves remain open. When the valves are to be closed in the ordinary way, the lever 16 is moved so as to disengage'it from the holding shoulder, whereupon the valve springs will move the control rod 5 for-wardand close the valves. Ifa vfire or other emergency should arise while the valves are open, making it necessary or desirable to close them'from theY forward end of t-he tank, the attendant pulls uponthe rod 35. This partially rotates the sleeve 28, and through the key 26 and grooves27 rotates the rod 12 within the sleeves 11.and 21. This brings the key 24 into line with the longitudinal passages22 of the rear sleeve, whereupon the connection at this end is a-u tomatically uncouplcd by the action of the valve springs, which project'the rod 12 for ward. l

After such an operation, .in order to reconnect the rear coupling, all that is necessary is to movethe lever 16 in the valve-clos- .ing direction, which will move the sleeve 21 forward on the rod 12 until the chamber 23 comes to a positionwliere it'will permit the key 24 to be turned ,into engagement with -the shoulder 25, LAt this moment the spring 37v acts automatically to' turn the rodand effect the re-connection. Thellengths ofthe sleeves 21 and 28are such that the lends of the cont-rol rod ydo not pass out of engagement therewith.

The preferred form of the invention has been described in detail. The device is susceptible, however, of other embodiment-s, and

there may be various changes in form, pro

portions, and arrangement, and in respect to substitutions, additions, omissions and reversals. Considered broadly, the invention provides a two-movement-control rod, one movement of the rod serving to unseat the valves through the action of the operating and holding mechanism at the rear end, and the other movement serving to release the rear end of the rod from such mechanism to enable the valves to be closed from the front in case of emergency. The twomovements referred to are longitudinal movement and. rotary movement ofthe rod about its longitudinal axis. The `associated connections .and operatingdevices may be varied within vthescope of the invention as defined in the claims.

that 1s claimed as new is: 1. In a itankhaving an outlet .or outlets fand aspring-closed valve orvalves therefor, longitudinal V.control Arod `.capablebf two f-anovements .namely flengl'uiual .ieri

and rotary, valve connections related to the control rod so as to be operated by the movement of the one kind, operating and holding means relatedto the control rod in respect to the said kind of movement, and means related to the control rod at another point so as to be capable of effecting the other kind of movement thereof to release it and the valves from the holding means.

2. In a tank having an outlet or outlets and a spring-closed valve or valves therefor, a longitudinal control rod capable of longitudinal and rotary movements, valve connections related to the control rod so as to be oierated b the longitudinal movement operating and holding mechanism operatively related to the rod at its rear part in respect to such movement, and means related to the forward part of the rod so as to be capable of turning the same whereby to effect its release from the mechanism at the rear.

3. In a tank having an outlet or outlets and a spring-closed valve or valves therefor, a longitudinal control rod capable of two kinds of movement, namely longitudinal and rotary, valve connections relate to the conrtol rod so as to be operated by the movement of one kind, operating and holding means for the rod having a connection telescopic with the rear portion of the rod and formed with passages permitting release of the rod from said connection when the rod is given the second kind of movement, and releasing means related to the forward part of the control rod in a manner to produce such movement.

4. In a tank having an outlet or outlets and a spring-closed valve or valves therefor, a longitudinal control rod capable of two kinds of movement, namely longitudinal and rotary, valve connections related to the control rod so as to be operated by the movement of one kind, operating and holding means for the rod having a connection telescopic with the rear portion of the rod and formed with passages permitting release of 'the rod from said connection when the rod is given the second kind of movement, and ay releasing device telescopic with the forward portion of the rod and adapted to effeet such movement.

In a tank having an outlet or outlets and a spring-closed valve or valves therefor, a longitudinal control rod capable of longitudinal and rotar)vv movements, valve connections related to the control rod so as to be operated by the longitudinal movement, operating and holding mechanism at the rear,

a telescopic connection between the rod and said mechanism having a key and passages whereby the rod can be disconnected by turning, and a releasing device at the forward part of the rod adapted to turn the same while permitting the longitudinal movement.

6. In a tank having an outlet or outlets and a spring-closed valve or valves therefor, a longitudinal control rod capable of longitudinal and rotary movements, valve con nections related to the control rod so as to be operated by the longitudinal movement, operating and holding mechanism at the rear, a telescopic connection between the rod and said mechanism having a key and passages whereby the rod can be disconnected by turning, a bearing for the forward portion of the rod permitting free longitudinal movement thereof, and means whereby to turn said bearing to turn the rod in order to relaase it from the connection at the rear en 7. In a tank having an outlet or outlets and a spring-closed valve or valves therefor, a longitudinal control rod capable of longitudinal and rotary movements, valve connections related to the control rod so as to be operated by. the longitudinal movement, operating and holding mechanism at the rear, a telescopic connection between the rod and said mechanism having a key and passages whereby the rod can be disconnected by turning, a fixed bearing at the forward part of the rod, and a rotatable bearing therein with means for turning the rotatable bearing, the rod and rotatable bearing having longitudinal formations permitting free relative longitudinal movement buit compelling them to rotate together when the bearing is turned to release the rod from the rear connection.

8. Ina tank having an outlet or outlets and a spring-closed valve or valves therefor, a longitudinal control rod capable of longitudinal and rotary movements, valve connec` tions having one-side abutment with the control rod so as to be unseated by longitudinal movement of the rod, operating and holding mechanism operatively related to the rod at its rear part in respect to such movement, means related to the forward part of the rod so as to be capable of turning the same whereby to effect its release from the mechanism at the rear, and cushion means for limiting the travel of the rod when thus released.

HARRISON F. FULLER. ARTHUR L. BETTS. 

